Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology

Admission Requirements

Admission to the doctoral program is competitive. The program typically receives
two to three times more applicants than students admitted.

Applicants must have a Master’s degree in a field closely related to counseling
psychology prior to enrollment. Examples include counseling psychology, clinical
psychology, counseling, or rehabilitation counseling. Degrees from other training
programs may be considered, but the faculty reserve the right to determine whether
a specific degree meets the prerequisite.

Other requirements:

GPA of 3.5, verified by official transcripts

Three letters of recommendation to support the applicant’s competency in counseling,
testing, research, and personal qualities of readiness for completion of a
doctoral degree

A statement of purpose outlining the applicant’s interest in doctoral training
in counseling psychology, professional aspirations, and research interests

Graduate Record Examination scores: As of August, 2011,the ETS revised
its score reporting system for the Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning measures. A
130-170 range of scores reported in 1-point increments has replaced the earlier
200-800 range that was reported in10-point increments for both sections for
tests taken in August 2011 or later. We recommend a minimum Revised Verbal
Reasoning score of 153; and a Revised Quantitative Reasoning score of 144.
A combined Verbal and Quantitative score should be about 300. See the ETS website
for detailed information on the revised scoring system and a conversion chart:
http://www.ets.org/gre/If you report test scores taken prior to August 2011, combined Verbal and Quantitative
scores should be at minimum 1,000. The scoring for the Analytic Writing test
remains the same.

Applications are reviewed each spring for admission to the next academic year.
Screening is based on written information and credentials. Successful applicants
are invited to campus for a personal interview with the program faculty. This
interview is required for admission. It helps to determine interpersonal and
clinical skills, predictive of success in graduate study, internship, and post-degree
placement.

The admission committee’s decision-making model is multifaceted and based on several
sources of information. A relative weakness in one area can be balanced and supported
by relative strengths in other areas. Admission announcements are made before
April 15. Materials received after December 1 are not reviewed until the following
year unless space is available.